In the glass
Aroma: dried cherry, rose petal, leather, dried fig, Mediterranean scrub
Palate: sour cherry, iron, tobacco, balsamic, potpourri
The Riserva amplifies the house signature: rose-petal and dried-cherry depth, iron-and-leather backbone, a very long balsamic finish. Released only in exceptional vintages.
What it pairs with
-
Tournedos with bone-marrow butter
Fat-rich beef demands the Riserva's firm tannin; marrow umami amplifies the wine's leather. -
Wild hare in salmi
Traditional hare stew finds a peer in the wine's dried-fig and balsamic register. -
Truffled risotto
Black-truffle aromatics weave into the wine's potpourri and rose-petal lift.
How to serve Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Tournedos with bone-marrow butter, Wild hare in salmi, Truffled risotto. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Poggio di Sotto bottles a Riserva only in exceptional years, drawn from the longest-cask selection of the estate's best parcels. The wine is widely cited in modern Brunello critic top-fives. ColleMassari Group has continued the Palmucci-era house style since the 2011 acquisition.
- 1995 — First Poggio di Sotto Brunello Riserva vintage
- 2011 — Estate transitions to ColleMassari Group ownership
Facts
- Producer
- Poggio di Sotto
- Grapes
- Sangiovese Grosso (100%)
- Classification
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva
- Oak
- Around 60 months in large Slavonian oak casks, released only in exceptional vintages
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 400 to 700 at retail
- Drinking window
- 12 to 40 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1995
Scores
- Wine Advocate 98 (2015 vintage, reviewed 2022)
- Vinous 97 (2015 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
What does Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva taste like?
On the nose, dried cherry, rose petal, leather, dried fig, Mediterranean scrub. On the palate, sour cherry, iron, tobacco, balsamic, potpourri. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The Riserva amplifies the house signature: rose-petal and dried-cherry depth, iron-and-leather backbone, a very long balsamic finish. Released only in exceptional vintages.
When should I drink Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva?
Drink 12 to 40 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva?
Tournedos with bone-marrow butter is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Wild hare in salmi and Truffled risotto. Fat-rich beef demands the Riserva's firm tannin; marrow umami amplifies the wine's leather.
What grapes are in Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva?
The blend is Sangiovese Grosso (100%). The wine is classified as Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva.